SAINT VALENTINE

Saint Valentine was a holy priest in Rome. He and Saint Marius assisted the martyrs in the persecution under Claudius II. He was apprehended and because he would not renounce his faith he was beaten with clubs and beheaded on February 14, 270.

Pope Julius I built a church near Ponte Mole in his memory. It is now called Porta del Popolo but formerly was called Porta Valetini. The greatest part of his relics are now in the church of Saint Praxedes.

His name is celebrated as a martyr in the sacramentary of Saint Gregory, the Roman Missal of Thomasius, the calendar of F. Fronto, Allatius, Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker and all other martyrologies on this day.